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Posts Tagged ‘cross stitch’

Ideas for teaching home management to teen home schooled girls?

January 12th, 2013 6 comments

I am starting to plan next years curriculum and want to include home management/life skills as a subject this year. I was wondering if anyone knew of some good web sites or curriculum’s. Also any ideas that you might have or things you have done with your girls would be helpful.

I think I have the book for you. It is Christian, but I think anyone could use it-and just taylor it. I have 4 boys, and they have a "boy’s" version and a "girl’s" version, but I use both. The name of the book is Keepers at home.

http://www.keepersofthefaith.com/Catalog/lkf/ProductSearch.asp

The book covers such areas as:

Creative Skills: basketweaving, calligraphy, candlemaking, candlewicking, ceramics, counted cross stitch, crewel embroidery, crochet, decoupage….though to weaving…

Homemaking: Baking, budgeting, cake decorating, camping, cleaning, cooking, fire safety, first aid, food preservation, gardening, health and fitness, home decorating, hygiene…through to soapmaking

Knowledge and Skills: biography, computer, foreign language, genealogy, library, literature, music, poetry, sign language… through to writing

Nature: birds, butterflies, flowers, horses, insects, pets, trees, wildflowers,

Other: bus worker, child care, church, ecology, etiquette, etc…

Recreational Activities: badminton, bicycle, croquet, hiking, ice skating, swimming, etc…

It has 374 pages, so obviously it doesn’t go in depth on any one subject, but tells you what to do to cover them. Kind of the same way scouting would cover things for badges.

what are some good websites that can teach me embroidery basics?

January 12th, 2013 1 comment


I’ve been embroidering since I was three, and have taught a number of beginners some of the basics. I usually use aida for their first lessons, because it’s easy to see the holes, and you get some practice at working stitches regularly. Here’s a good site:
http://www.needlenthread.com/videos and another:
http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/stitches/index.html

My suggestion: pick a few stitches you like the looks of and play with them a bit. Develop your own variations. Sketch a design and try some stitches on it. Here’s a piece of wrought iron art:
http://dhruvphoto.blogspot.com/2007/03/madien-hair-fern-could-fit-in-graphic.html that I turned into a quilt square for a friend — I used three stitches: stem, feather and a variant of the french knot, and three shades of green — I was pleased: http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/21784677

Head for the library for some books on embroidery — there are all sorts of formal styles of embroidery, ranging from cross stitch to blackwork to redwork to whitework to polychrome; free stitching and counted thread work; work on surface fabrics and work "in the air" like stumpwork. Play. It can be a really cheap hobby, and one you can keep handy for fidgeting — a square of fabric and a needle and a skein of embroidery thread can easily fit in an altoids box.

DMC has, over the years, done tremendous amounts of design books for embroidery ("DMC Library"). Particularly if you’re interested in historical styles, they can be an excellent resource. Here are a few more books, some beginnerish, some advanced… just have fun:






www.amazon.com/Mountmellick-Work-Irish-White-Embroidery/dp/0851055125

Don’t let first projects overwhelm you, think small at first — a little featherstitch or chain stitch variant covers the top of a pocket or around a cuff in very little time, and is much less discouraging than getting yourself into the middle of a needlepoint rug project. And choose a small oval hoop for your first hoop. They’re easy to hold and work around. Me? I mostly work in hand, without a hoop. Even easier once you’ve gotten the idea of thread tensions taught to your fingers.

FWIW, these are the usual types of hoops I give to beginners — easy to adjust, hold the fabric well, light in the hand, pretty cheap.

www.createforless.com/Darice+Spring+Tension+Hoop+7/pid17632.aspx
(aka tension hoop, spring hoop) (and also works for machine embroidery
and the plastic Susan Bates hoops:
www.createforless.com/Bates+Hoop-La+Embroidery+Hoop+_and_+Frame+5/pid69998.aspx which has an adjustment screw.

5" round is a good size for most women to hold. though I still prefer the oval hoops
that are harder to find. //www.nordicneedle.com/PROD/6980B.html

When you turn pro, go for the scroll frames or q snaps and similar, if you want to work in a frame.

Does anyone have any gift ideas made out of recycled materiels?

November 25th, 2012 5 comments

I’m short on funds this year and want to make Christmas presents out of stuff I already have. I’m getting tired of making purses and memo boards. I have lots of scrap material and embroidery supplies. I’m good at embroidery, sewing, and cross stitch but am looking at other ideas as well. Please don’t post anything expensive. I am on a very fixed budget! thanks in advance for your help

There are many ideas that you can do as well as a few books that cater to making recycle items. I have a few so if you send me an email with some ideas you are looking for I can check them out I have couple of books that everything cost about 10.00 or less to make. These books normal can be found in most crafts stores. Or you can check out what books your local library have. They will mostly likely have a craft type section.

How can I turn an illustration into a digital image?

November 21st, 2012 3 comments

I want to turn an illustration into a digital image in order to get it embroidered onto something. I asked about it at Lids and they have a service where they digitize the image for $50. I would like to find something free or cheaper. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

once you have drawing on paper done, use scanner to import to image editor or use camera to upload image , then touch up or re-edit image to inaccurate copy of design you want,

PhotoPlus
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PhotoPlus/
Artweaver Free
http://www.artweaver.de/products-en/artweaver-free/
Gimp ~image editor,
http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

then place in embroidery program or sewing knitting tools the set blocks for stitches,

Embroidery Reader

Embroidery Reader

Scheme Maker
http://schememaker.sourceforge.net/

Stitch –
http://people.dsv.su.se/~henrikbe/stitch/screenshots.shtml

KG-Chart for Cross Stitch
http://www.iktsoft.net/kgchart-en/kgchart/

Sophie Sews
http://www.sophiesew.com/SSDLP/Gallery.php

Stitch buddy (mac)
http://www.stitchbuddy.de/

http://sewhelp.com/
..

Embroidery material? Where do I get it and what is it called?

November 19th, 2012 2 comments

Okay….so I have a stupid question. I really want to try cross stitching/embroidery but I have no idea what that material is called or where to get it. Not aida cloth, but that plain white fabric you always see people use in embroidery hoops.

Any ideas?

Take a look at this fabric… it’s plain old muslin, and you can get it at any fabric store, or even the Walmarts that haven’t thrown every bolt of fabric out.
Probably in the range of $2-5/yard for 45" wide fabric.
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/21784677
That’s about a 10" wide piece shown there… here’s what the fabric looks like up close:
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/22521551
the machine stitches here are 3 mm long.

This is what I typically give to beginners for surface embroidery, or for doing stamped cross stitch. It’s cheap, easy to work with and holds up well.

The real secret of embroidery is that once you know what you’re doing, you can embroider on anything you can get a needle through, from the most delicate silk organza like the wings of this dragonfly: http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/photo/stumpwork-dragonfly?context=user
to heavy velvets http://www.hchc.edu/hellenic/campus_life/library/archbishop_iakovos_collection/gallery.html?pic=15 and even leather: http://natural-history.uoregon.edu/metis_textiles13

If you want to do counted cross stitch, then a fabric where you can really see the holes, like aida or evenweave linen, is easier to start with. I usually start beginners at about 10 stitches per inch.

where can i find Lord Krishna’s drawings for embroidery?

February 11th, 2012 2 comments

I wish to do embroidery or cross stitch of Lord Krishna.
Where can i find the sketches or drawings free for download.

try images.google.com

if you want to read more funny jokes then please visit http://free-jokes-9.blogspot.com/

Quality Designs, Always Free Embroidery …embrofree.com

October 1st, 2011 1 comment

Why Pay When You Can Get Better Quality Embroidery Designs For Free?

Duration : 0:1:54

Read more…

Free Embroidery Designs to Download.wmv

September 24th, 2011 No comments

Now you can download this collection of more than 70 Embroidery and cross-stitch Designs .
Click the links below:
Collection 1: http://ul.to/gl2c0k
Collection 2 : http://ul.to/5v46gx

Duration : 0:0:37

Read more…

How to Buy Art & Craft Books

September 23rd, 2011 No comments

Wanting to try a new hobby? Or just needing to expand your library, Halfvalue is a great place to get Supplies and Instruction books you will need. Just like anything else in life, practice makes perfect and most artist are not born with the “know how” to get started. So look for Art & Craft Instruction Books. They can be the jumping off point for a new hobby or even for making money.
When looking for Art or Craft Instruction books, you must determine which media you want to try or use. There are Oil Paintings, Watercolors, Pastels, Acrylics, Quilting, Sewing, Decopage, Embroidery, Cross Stitch, Drawing, Pen and Ink, Pattern Books, You also will want to also look for books that have great pictures to help you “see” what you will be doing and to use as a comparison guide.
There have been thousands of books and booklets written for this purpose. Which ever media and type books you decide to try, always remember to read the description the buyer places in his/her listings. If you need more information email a message to the seller and ask specific questions. If you don’t get an answer you may want to reconsider bidding on that particular book. Please give the seller time to respond, (we are not online every minute of every day). Also watch feedback. Sometimes bad communication is the cause for negative feedback and the seller is not really at fault, sometimes it is. The higher feedback the chances are you will have no problems. Sellers listings should tell you what payments they accept and where they will ship. Another thing to remember as a buyer, always check the shipping. International prices for shipping can be high, and I am sorry to say I have seen sellers charge high rates for shipping to cover looses on the item. ALWAYS check BEFORE bidding.
A last important thing when buying books to remember, make sure the condition of the book is fine for your use. Sometimes with old or used books, pages yellow, or get loose. Check the description to see that the books are in useable shape. I also have bought a book that looked like it came through a flood and was described as good shape. Most sellers are honestly trying to describe items clearly. But some ones “good shape” is someone else “poor” or even someone else “excellent”. Ask before bidding any and all questions and at least with enough time allowed for seller to respond.
If you buy from a seller and enjoy the experience place that person in your Favorite Seller’s to make searching esier, and faster for you. I have a lot of repeat customers and so do other sellers and we all love repeat buyers. Sellers and customers a like are looking for someone they can trust and increase the pleasure of “Halfvalueing”. Search the sellers feedback to see if they constantly place these type of books, or email and ask them.
Some art and craft books are one time listings. You may never see that particular book again so bid if it is a price, and type book you want. Art and craft books are wonderful presents for those loved ones that you never know what to get for.

Wholesale Art & craft supplies
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Half price books
Don’t miss the chance to save big on thousands of popular half price books here at Catalogs.com. Our book merchants selections include hard and soft cover half price books by best selling and award-winning authors in virtually every category imaginable: fiction, nonfiction, cooking, sports, romance, biography, mystery and suspense, to name only a few. We also feature some well known half price books clubs specializing in today’s Christian books by trusted Christian authors.

Subhash
http://www.articlesbase.com/ebooks-articles/how-to-buy-art-craft-books-55464.html

Information Regarding Free Cross Stitch Software

August 17th, 2011 No comments

Who uses free counted cross stitch patterns and graphs? Anyone who wants them, but there are many uses for these patterns. Free cross stitch patterns are often found on the Internet which is a great source for these patterns. Some people use these patterns to incorporate and merge them with other patterns and motifs to create a brand new pattern idea. These customized patterns are then either used for personal use or are marketed and sold with a new name or title.

A designer who specializes in free cross stitch patterns is Connie G. Barwick who presents patterns to the general public for personal use only. Also, a site called Better Cross Stitch Patterns.com offers very nice, unique free patterns. The atmosphere is very friendly there, and they go out of their way to make a stitcher feel at home.

For more information on free cross stitch software click here